ST. LUCIA'S NEW CABINET SPORTS FAMILIAR NAMES,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BRIDGETOWN 001225

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR ST XL
SUBJECT: ST. LUCIA'S NEW CABINET SPORTS FAMILIAR NAMES,
MISSING INFAMOUS ONES

REF: A. 07 BRIDGETOWN 01168


B. 07 BRIDGETOWN 000749

C. 07 BRIDGETOWN 01021


1. (U) SUMMARY: On September 9, 2007, Prime Minister
Stephenson King was sworn in as Prime Minister of St. Lucia,
following Sir John Compton's death on September 7th. King
appointed his new cabinet on September 12th but made few
changes to his predecessor's cabinet. The new cabinet is
most notable for the absence of the two former ministers who
were on the losing end of a power struggle with the late
Prime Minister earlier this summer. End Summary.


2. (U) On September 12th, newly appointed Prime Minister of
St. Lucia Stephenson King announced his new cabinet. King's
cabinet closely mirrors the late Sir John Compton's previous
cabinet, at least as it looked following a power struggle
within the United Worker's Party (UWP) earlier this summer
(Ref B). The new cabinet appointments are as follows (noting
key changes in parentheses):

Stephenson King: Prime Minister, Minister for Finance,
External Affairs, Home Affairs, and National Security

Lenard Montoute: Minister for Social Transformation, Public
Service, Human Resource Development, and Youth and Sports
(added Public Service, relieved of Family Affairs)

Dr. Keith Mondesir: Minister for Health Wellness, Family
Affairs, National Mobilization, Human Services, and Gender
Relations (added Heath Wellness and Family Affairs)

Richard Fredrick: Minister for Physical Planning, Housing,
Urban Renewal, and Local Government.

Arsene Vigil James: Minister for Education and Culture.

Ezechiel Joseph: Minister for Agriculture, Land, Fisheries
and Forestry.

Senator George Guy Mayers: Minister of Trade, Industry,
Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Guy Eardly Joseph: Minister for Communications, Works,
Transport and Public Utilities.

Senator Allen Chastanet: Minister for Tourism and Civil
Aviation.

Senator Ausbert d'Auvergne: Minister for Economic Affairs,
Economic Planning, Investment and National Development
(relieved of Public Service)

Senator Gaspard Charlemagne: Minister in the Ministry of
Education and Culture.

Edmund Estephane: Minister for Labour, Information and
Broadcasting (formerly Minister of Health)

Senator Dr. Nicholas Frederick: Attorney General and Minister
for Justice.

Senator Charlotte Elizabeth Theresa Tessa Mangal: Minister in
the Office of the Prime Minister (formerly Minister in the
Ministry of Social Transformation, Human Services, Family
Affairs, Youth & Sports- Responsible for Human Services and
Family Affairs.

Cosmos Richardson Cabinet Secretary

Anthony Bryan Severin: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
External Affairs


3. (U) Among the most interesting aspects of the minor
changes to the Cabinet is the continued service of Ausbert
d'Auvergne over such important ministries. Many of the UWP
hate him and resent his power, but he obviously carries
weight in the party (ref A). Perhaps the most notable aspect
of the new cabinet, mentioned in most of the local press, is
the continued exclusion of former Foreign Minister Rufus
Bousquet and Marcus Nicholas from the party. Rumors abounded
that Frederick, Bousquet, and Nicholas held considerable sway
in the party, particularly given Frederick's financial

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support of the other ministers. As such, many expected to
see Bousquet return and d'Auvergne relieved of his
responsibilities. The fact that this did not occur suggests
that the King/d'Auvergne faction of Cabinet still holds more
power.

COMMENT
--------------


4. (SBU) Although a smooth transition was made, the UWP
administration is not out of the woods yet. A source close
to Bousquet shared with PolOff that Bousquet may skip town
and "lay around on the beach in Miami" because he is upset
that he did not get a position. Marcus Nicholas also appears
to be upset over not being returned to the cabinet, but has
yet to clean his laundry publicly regarding his traffic
arrest in April and the circumstances surrounding the
subsequent dropping of all charges (Ref C). He stated
publicly that he would explain everything soon. Potential
mischief by these two MPs who were left out of cabinet could
considerably weaken the strength of the new government.


5. (SBU) Although PM King has not yet made many changes, more
are surely to come. The UWP will still have its party
convention in October, which has the potential of shaking up
the party leadership. Within 90 days of Sir John's death
(September 7th, the government must hold a by-election for
Sir John's seat (Micoud North). This could also introduce
someone new into the cabinet. Also, King still has too many
portfolios -- Finance, Ex Affairs, Home Affairs, National
Security-- all of which are among the largest and most
important portfolios, so it is likely he will have to
relinquish some of these duties. When he does so, the
internal power struggle among UWP leaders figures to
influence the final composition of the cabinet. End Comment.
FISHER